Letters to the editor: Have your say

Mike Hosking -- at least he's had a 'great run'.

Sour grapes, Mike

Mike Hosking's sour grapes rant in the Chronicle editorial (October 21) makes out that the new Government is destined for disaster, and a 44 per cent result for National meant they should be the chosen ones.

Then Mike goes on to claim this result means MMP is all wrong and we should go back to a system that could elect a National Government in 1993 with enough members (50) from only 35 per cent of the vote, and 0.37 per cent more of the votes more than Labour (45 seats).

A coalition under MMP allows parties with similar policies to form a government. Just because there are different views within the coalition doesn't mean they can't work together - even the National party has different views within their ranks.

What was evident in the result was that 56 per cent voters wanted a change from a government that was scared of real progress on issues like climate change, inequality and clean rivers.

In in the lead-up to the election, National did promise action on these issues, like they did about bridges in Northland during their lost by-election.

If these issues are so high on their agenda why had they done nothing in the previous nine years?

Mike Hosking finishes with "Ultimately, though, we all want the best for this country because we deserve it, and we have had a great run". Well, yes, for some it's been a great run, and if Mike suddenly loses his millions he's got a great car to sleep in.

JOHN MILNES, Whanganui

Charge us up

ChargeNet has 51 active electric car charger stations in New Zealand, with 14 under construction, 32 planned for 2017 and 105 by 2019.

They are moving very rapidly towards building their network, so where are we on this fast-paced plan?

Electric car charging stations relevant to our area exist in New Plymouth and not again till Palmerston North and Otaki and yet, and this makes me smile, out of the way charming places such as Mangaweka and Turangi have one. Whanganui does not.

So my question to council is that if we are going to promote ourselves as a technology savvy, "Leading Edge" town, then are we not a bit slow off the rank when at least two tiny inland towns (albeit on major highways) have one while we - also on a major highway - don't.

Are we officially listed for 2017, 2018 or 2019?

Why are we the only big gap between New Plymouth and Palmerston North/Otaki?
ChargeNet state the NZ-wide network will be complete by 2019. When is our listing and where will it be? Castlecliff?

ROSS FALLEN, Castlecliff

Unholy alliance

NZME is to be congratulated for capturing the reality of the Labour/NZ First coalition and Green Party support in the photo "Sealing the deal" on Page 8 of the Chronicle on October 25.

Ms Ardern is friendly, businesslike and courteous looking at Mr Peters during the photo-op handshake, while he is more interested in playing to the camera, as is his normal attitude.

The fact there is no Greenie in the picture sort of sums it up, really.

God defend New Zealand, because this unholy alliance will not.

D PARTNER, Eastown

Lift Gold Card users

It is not widely known that Durie Hill and Bastia Hill are not served by bus services. Apparently, this is up for discussion with Horizons.

However, may I make a suggestion about Durie Hill - Gold Card holders who live on the flat have access to free bus transportation. Wouldn't it make sense that the Durie Hill lift also be made available to Gold Card holder for free?

I am sure that there is an ergonomic method for the tenderer who runs the lift to get recompense from whomever pays for the free buses.

When one thinks what it costs to allow Gold Card holders to go from Auckland to Waiheke and back, then it seems that a $4 fee to go down and up the lift is a minuscule amount to cover.

CHRISTODOULOS MOISA, Durie Hill

Working together

I have read the latest column by Kate Stewart and the latest letter from David Bennett. Neither of them are happy with the process of coalition politics, and both have a thing about Winston Peters.

And they come out with lots of trite comments and inventions worthy of hack journalism, or of losers addicted to FPP.

Diversity in government and on local councils requires a coalition of different viewpoints.
Nothing could be worse than a single monopoly viewpoint.

A do-nothing monopoly government is not a responsible government and it is only stable for those who do not want to share power and who feel threatened by those able or prepared to work together.

ROD SACH, Castlecliff

Awaken the silent

Is it safe to come out? No - and not because of Kim and Donald and their shiny red nuclear buttons.

Climate change abounds as storm, fire and flood spread around the world. Global warming you say? Nature, I suggest, has a role.

Then we have the minority that dull television and radio with their "talk back" babble on election outcomes. We have MMP instead of FPP, unlike the United States where Hillary Clinton received 3.5 million votes more than Trump and still lost as did Al Gore previously.

I think I supported "Supplementary Member" but you still need 51 per cent to govern here in New Zealand.

Now a "minority" has managed to shut down the financial support for facilities that support families with seriously sick children.

This will not be replaced with funds from these politically correct "do-gooders", so the children will suffer. Let's demand family accommodation to support our children.

It was written into legislation for eating disorders and the like in Ministry of Health documentation 10 years ago. Let's awaken the silent majority again?

KEN CRAFAR, Whanganui